SIM Cards Issued in Your Name Could Lead to Jail Time and ₹50 Lakh Fine: DoT Warns Under Telecommunications Act 2023

Lending your SIM card or neglecting identity security can cost you dearly—verify your active mobile connections immediately on the Sanchar Saathi portal to stay safe.

If you lend a SIM card registered under your name to someone else or remain indifferent toward the security of your personal identification documents, it is time to exercise extreme caution. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has issued a critical security advisory for all mobile subscribers across the country.

According to the DoT, if a SIM card issued in your name is linked to cybercrime or any illegal activity, the registered owner of the connection can be held directly accountable. Allowing unauthorized use of your SIM or engaging in identity fraud can now lead to severe monetary penalties and imprisonment.

Telecommunications Act 2023: Strict Legal Framework and Penalties

The DoT has emphasized that under the Telecommunications Act, 2023, stringent penal provisions have been instituted to penalize identity suppression, fraudulent SIM acquisition, and telecom equipment tampering:

Imprisonment & Hefty Fines: Obtaining SIM cards through fraud or misrepresentation, misusing telecom identifiers, or tampering with a mobile device’s IMEI number carries a penalty of up to 3 years in prison and fines up to ₹50 lakh.

Strict Legal Liability: If an unauthorized mobile connection active under your credentials is used in a crime, law enforcement investigations will directly implicate you as the registered owner.

Who Needs to Take Immediate Action?

The DoT's advisory is particularly urgent for two categories of mobile users:

Users Lending SIM Cards: Individuals who have procured SIM cards using their own identity proofs and handed them over to friends, relatives, or third parties.

Victims of Identity Fraud: Individuals whose identity documents (such as government IDs or Voter IDs) have been misused without consent by fraudulent PoS agents or scammers to activate unauthorized connections.

The Trigger: Fraud Case in Chhattisgarh

The DoT issued this nationwide security advisory following a alarming fraud uncovered during a cybercrime investigation in Chhattisgarh:

The Incident: A Point of Sale (PoS) agent illegally utilized the identification documents of unsuspecting citizens without their knowledge or consent to activate 25 fraudulent mobile connections.

Security Threat: Subsequent security verifications revealed that several of these unauthorized numbers were actively being used in illegal operations. The DoT promptly blocked all associated SIM cards.

This case highlights how compromised identity credentials can be exploited by cybercriminals to execute major crimes, leaving innocent citizens legally vulnerable.

Tampering with IMEI and Calling Line Identity (CLI) Declared Illegal

Beyond SIM card misuse, the DoT has prohibited hardware- and software-level manipulations that compromise telecom network integrity:

IMEI Tampering: The advisory warns against using modems, SIM Boxes, or mobile devices where the factory-set International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number has been altered or spoofed.

Caller ID (CLI) Spoofing: Using applications, websites, or digital tools to modify Calling Line Identity (Caller ID) or alter telecom identifiers is strictly illegal.

Threat to National Security: The DoT warns that such tampering poses a direct threat to national security and compromises the integrity of the entire telecommunications infrastructure.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Check Active Mobile Connections in Your Name

The DoT urges all citizens to periodically audit and verify the active mobile connections registered under their identity:

Visit the Official Portal: Go to the official DoT 'Sanchar Saathi' portal at sancharsaathi.gov.in.

Select the Module: Click on the 'Know Your Mobile Connections' (TAFCOP) option.

Log In: Enter your mobile number and request a One-Time Password (OTP) to log in.

Review Your List: The screen will display all mobile numbers currently registered under your identification credentials.

Report & Block: If you spot any number that does not belong to you or is no longer in use, select 'Not My Number' or 'Report' to submit an immediate block request.

Conclusion: Negligence regarding your personal documents and SIM card security can result in severe legal consequences. Take immediate control of your digital identity by verifying your active SIM connections on the Sanchar Saathi portal and reporting any unauthorized numbers today.